General Info

[BKKguru]

This maybe true, but when I purchase an item using my Schwab card at either Exito or Home Center or where ever I get an outstanding conversion rate, so who rate is this?

I do not use Charles Schwab. But this is how it works:

Your conversion rate is determined by the InterBank Rate.
This is a "wholesale" rate because it's the rate that banks use when they are trading foreign currencies with *other banks*.

The conversion rate you see online is the InterBank Rate. However, you will NEVER get the InterBank rate.
The Banks have to make money, so they have a mark-up. On average, banks can mark up an exchange rate by 3-6%. This mark-up is not publicized.

InterBank rates fluctuate through out the day. They change based on several factors like Geo-political events, Interest rates, Trade deficit, National elections etc.
Usually Banks use the Interbank rate at the end of the business day to calculate your conversion rate. This is public information. You can ask Schwab about their InterBank rate.

BKKguru

[Magaman]

Well yes, but I don't see too many of the guys here giving out a referral link to a stranger, which connects to their bank.

If that's a fear someone has then don't get a referral link, or get one from someone you know. My main point was that using a link from the internet wasn't valid and Schwab will refuse to honor it.

[The Tall Man]

Schwab does not determine the conversion rate. The owner of your ATM does.

This maybe true, but when I purchase an item using my Schwab card at either Exito or Home Center or where ever I get an outstanding conversion rate, so who rate is this?

The Tall Man.

[PirateMorgan]

Schwab does not determine the conversion rate. The owner of your ATM does.

[Bango Cheito]

It's been suggested in this forum, by reliable sources not me, to use Charles Schwab debit at ATMS in Colombia. They either have no foreign transaction fees or they reimburse for them? It's one of the two I don't remember. Comprende amigo?

They have no charges themselves, and they reimburse you the OTHER bank's fees at the beginning of every month.

[The Tall Man]

It's been suggested in this forum, by reliable sources not me, to use Charles Schwab debit at ATMS in Colombia. They either have no foreign transaction fees or they reimburse for them? It's one of the two I don't remember. Comprende amigo?

CS reimburses any ATM fees, you will see it at the end of each month PLUS the rate they give you for Colombian pesos when you withdraw at an ATM is excellent. I was turned onto CS about 2 years ago and also highly recommend them.

The Tall Man.

[JjBee62]

It's been suggested in this forum, by reliable sources not me, to use Charles Schwab debit at ATMS in Colombia. They either have no foreign transaction fees or they reimburse for them? It's one of the two I don't remember. Comprende amigo?

Well yes, but I don't see too many of the guys here giving out a referral link to a stranger, which connects to their bank.

[Magaman]

It's been suggested in this forum, by reliable sources not me, to use Charles Schwab debit at ATMS in Colombia. They either have no foreign transaction fees or they reimburse for them? It's one of the two I don't remember. Comprende amigo?

WTF are you talking about, and what does it have to do with mongering?

[Fun Luvr]

Fellow old guy here- I'm planning on staying only a couple days in MDE this time so I can spend more time actually seeing a little bit of Colombia. I thought since I was only going to be there a short time I might try the Mansion out for the first time. Any thoughts, yea or nay?

For only two days, I think you should stay at the Mansion so you can have first-hand knowledge of the place. I had heard so much good about it, about the abundance of beautiful chicas and the social scene, I wanted to experience it first hand. I have friends who used to work there, and some are very pretty. I was disappointed. The only aspects of the Mansion that was average or above average was the receptionist at Mansion 1 (friendliness and looks) and the cleaning ladies at Mansion 2 (for friendliness and efficiency, not looks).

[MiamiSammy]

I had almost forgotten about this- last time I was in MDE I had some USD I needed to change, and for some reason I couldn't find any Casa de Cambios in El Centro (WTF? What happened to them? Anyway, I was directed to one of the really tall buildings on the east side of Parque Berrio. Security guy at the door asks me what I want- I was told I need to speak to "The Russian". It was almost like out of a movie. I get in the elevator, go upstairs, the floor seems abandoned. I go to the door number the security guy told me, knocked, and could hear this guy walking slowly across the full expanse of a hardwood floor. Again, like out of a movie. The guy is so stereotypically Russian looking- wife beater, suspenders, funky glasses and a big wart right between his eyes. He's got pictures of him in his prime, wearing his military uniform on the walls- lots of chicken feathers on the bill of his hat and all kinds of medals. Right in the middle is a great big framed picture of Putin in his prime. The transaction goes smoothly- he won't accept any bills unless they're new and clean- and I get out of there. It looked and felt far more dramatic than it really was, but the whole time I felt like the archetypical dar papaya. But when you need cash, you need cash. End of story.

[MiamiSammy]

I have been going to Medellin for nine years (39 times), always solo after the first two times. I haven't been robbed, drugged, or harmed in any way. I am an old guy, so I can't outrun hardly anyone. Use common sense and you should be fine. Also, I have stayed at the Mansion for two nights, that's all.

Fellow old guy here- I'm planning on staying only a couple days in MDE this time so I can spend more time actually seeing a little bit of Colombia. I thought since I was only going to be there a short time I might try the Mansion out for the first time. Any thoughts, yea or nay?

[MiamiSammy]

I have been traveling for pussy for over 25 years. Brazil, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Argentina, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. I have been to 37 countries but I visited each of these countries multiple times principally to play. I am a reasonably cautious traveler, but I'm not going to walk around so scared that I have a bad trip and project the fear that will attract the sharks like blood in the water. I'm returning to Medellin for the 11th time in July. Everything tends to go back in the safe when I get home, I watch my drinks, I'm careful who I take and where I stay. Over the 25 years, over 100 trips and thousands of girls I was held up once at gun point in Brazil (2001), had a cell phone stolen in Bangkok (2012) and was drugged and robbed once in MDE (2018). In each case I let my guard down for a moment and the shark pounced. As an old Brazilian Girlfriend told me, I walk like John Wayne and they can see me coming a mile away. I'm very big and very white and I don't blend regardless of what I wear. I can't remember how many times they attempted to get me but I avoided it. I have clamped down on hands entering my pockets, poured out drinks I have let out of my sight, taken a cab to go four blocks at night, barely escaped a wolf pack of street kids in Rio and in once case decked a persistent snatch and grab artist in Buenos Aires. Perhaps one day I will write my memoirs LOL.

Tokyo tops the list as the world's safest city. That is where you go if you want safety (and sushi). Though you are going to pay at least eight times what you will pay in Medellin to get laid once, less than what I lost in any of those 3 incidents. I remember years ago someone following me (I'm sure to) rob me in San Jose late at night. I ducked into a Casino to loose him and then took a taxi home. That said I think MDE is only moderately more dangerous than San Jose. In my mind the quality and quantity of girls, the vastly superior food and infrastructure more than offset perhaps a small additional risk. Carry only what you are willing to loose, consider a theft resistant like PacSafe bag to carry your stuff, stay in a safe building with security that validates and records ID, don't be flashy, don't get drunk in public (being solo) and don't walk down deserted streets at night. Almost everyone who gets bit (including me), let their guard down for at least a moment. Announce your trip here in ISG and perhaps you can acquire a wingman.

Great information- thanks for posting. I too have traveled extensively and had little problems. I just got back from SE Asia last winter, and realized my think is for Latinas, not Asians. Of all things, it was the language, especially in Thailand, that bugged me. There's a shrillness to the language, and the fact every sentence ends with "kaaaaa" that I found a bit abrasive. Give me those sultry, sexy paisas any day of the week!

I especially liked the "walk like John Wayne" part- certainly one of my tactics. Like you, I"m big, white, and while a big teddy bear in reality, have no problem projecting a presence that doesn't encourage bullshit. I also carry a small pepper spray canister with me that I had to use on some trannies in MDE once. The most problem I had (although arguably the best mongering site in the world) was in Tijuana. As you said, it was a case of letting your guard down and not being completely aware of your circumstances.

Thanks again for posting- I'll be down in MDE the last half of November. Let me know if you'll be in town and I'll buy the first round.

[MiamiSammy]

FYI If you sign up for Charles Schwab via a link from creditdonkey or some such website for a $100 promo when you place $1000 in a brokerage account Schwab will refuse to honor the deal. You need to get a referral link from somebody with an actual Schwab account so asking somebody here like one of the big info provider guys is probably the way to go.

WTF are you talking about, and what does it have to do with mongering?

[MiamiSammy]

Hi, have been to MDE once. Poblado - want to go back and stay in centro (as my budget is more situated to centro's Prepago pricing) . Can you tell us how your stay was? Thanks.

My first time in Medellin I stayed right downtown on Calle 51 at Hotel Calle Real. The price was right, the rooms nice and roomy, the staff friendly, and the place was secure. The police presence around Botero Plaza is pretty active and it's well lit. While you can certainly get in some trouble if you're a dar papaya, I liked staying in El Centro immensely. There's a restaurant on the second floor above the pastry shop on the SE corner, and you can sit up there with some coffee and watch the entire city of Medellin go by. You're two blocks from Puta Street, and you get to enjoy the wonderful Botero statue garden. I have a friend in Laureles that I generally stay with now, but I still spend a lot of time hanging out in El Centro. I don't like El Poblado at all- too touristy for me.

[Bango Cheito]

I appreciate all the help and info from you all. It sounds to me like I need to follow the same guidelines and precautions I used when I went to Costa Rica and all should be fine. As most of you have pointed out. I may even try to find a wingman off of here on my first trip.

One other important piece of info:

If you're in a Colombian city and just want to p4 p, it's WAY safer than going out to normal bars solo.

The former, no problem. The major p4 p places will look after your security. The regular bars, not so much.

The WORST are the regular bars that aren't officially fuck spots, but have prepagos hanging around. Definitely AVOID those if you're flying solo.